Questions & Answers

Locksmith Training Services

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New Premises Address: Belgrade Business Centre, Denington Road, Denington Industrial Estate, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 2QU

We no longer hold any courses near Stevenage in Hertfordshire.

Frequently asked question.

What qualifications or authorisation do I need to be a trading locksmith?

Answer: In the UK today there are no recognised qualifications in locksmithing. (City & guilds do offer a recognised qualification in key cutting) Locksmiths like many other trades do not have a national register and there are currently no governmental or legal requirements when setting up and trading as a locksmith.

Can I start trading as a locksmith as soon as the course has been completed?

Answer: Yes. . By the end of the course you will have opened hundreds of locks and will have all the necessary lock opening techniques needed to trade successfully as a mobile locksmith. (For those with no carpentry skills i.e. who have never fitted locks before we do offer a training course in the fitting of locks to aluminium and wooden doors.

2. What other tools would I need to purchase after the course?

Answer: We give you a recommended 'additional tools' list which will speed up opening times and make life easier when opening locks. As for standard tools you will need to get carpentry tools, cordless drill approx 1400 rpm with 2 or 3 batteries and a limited lock stock. Therefore additional costs of approximately £500 should cover the purchase of a drill, hammer, chisels additional picks etc plus a selection of recommended locks, please note these prices do not include the cost of picks for Bs3621 locks, we would recommend the use of a 2mm drill template kit unless you are purchasing the additional picks for the Bs locks.

After successfully learning the lock opening skills on the course can you help us get work?

Answer: Yes. We introduce you to National Companies who specialise in maintenance lock work. These companies will pass you sub-contract work after filling in their forms (Most national company's also require you to get an ID photo and a CS4 card from your local tax office). Outside of subcontracting we will also give you help & direction in targeting those customers in your area that benefit from locksmith services such as estate agents, letting company's, police stations, councils, etc.

What happens if I don't start trading immediately and forget the techniques & skills I had learnt?

Answer: You are always welcome to return on the course and have a refresher (free of charge).

Where can I purchase lock picks or stock?

Answer: We supply you with a list of wholesalers who will supply you with tools, lock picks, stock which is normally supplied at a discounted rate of 40 - 50% less than retail prices.

Where should I advertise for work?

Answer: We explain all the different forms of advertising available to you with approx costs whilst on the course, we also explain why some forms of advertising work better than others depending upon what services you are offering, for instance yellow pages phone service 118247 is a better advertising media for general lock outs than actually advertising in the yellow pages due to the fact most people don't have a yellow pages available when locked out, the yellow pages book is far better for general enquires or lock fitting etc, we do include a domain name registered in your name in the cost of the course if you request this and the domain is available for registration, we can also supply discounted hosting, a discounted web design company to build a site for you or you can upload to web space yourself.

What assistance will I get if needed

Answer: We offer a 24 hour emergency helpline for anybody that has taken the locksmith courses, the phones are manned by the course lecturers that know the trade and have years of experience and can give you the information that you require instantly without having to refer to reference manuals. We have been trading for 18 years and teaching the general public and government sectors for approx 10 years.

What insurance cover do I need to trade

Answer: All self employed persons do need insurance cover, public liability insurance is a must, you can trade on £1,000,000 but a lot of large company's will require to see your policy for at least £2,000,000 before they will contract you to do work for them, a lot of public liability insurances only cover the theft of tools from vehicles between certain hours for instance 9am 5pm which is not a lot of good for the remaining 16 hours in the day so tool insurance should be checked, If you shop around on the internet you can find liability insurance for approx £50 per million. Vehicle insurance should be checked to see if you are insured to use the vehicle for business. Personal insurance for accident and sickness should also be considered, If you intend to employ personnel you will also need employee insurance.

What clothing should I carry in the vehicle

Answer: Due to the various types of places worked as a locksmith you need to be equipped for all situations from building sites, offices, cold stores, farms, homes etc its basically anywhere there's a lock, we carry hard hats, gloves, thermal suites, rain gear, high visibility jackets and steel toe shoes, there's nothing worse than turning up on a job and being told sorry its the health and safety regulation this is what you need to enter the property or site to do what could have been a 1 minute job. Plastic overshoes could also save a lot of problems with customers carpets when in a home having just left a job on a building site. Incidentally if you remove your shoes you will probably find you are uninsured when the chisel hits your foot, leather soled shoes are far easier to clean than the tread on your trainer.

How much would I expect to earn as a locksmith

Answer: This totally depends upon a number of factors, where you are situated in the country, charges vary from area to area, if you are working in a city the charges will be much higher than in a rural area, do you intend to work 24-7 or 9-5pm, how much effort are you intending to put into getting the work, are you intending to place 1 advert in a local paper or go and get the contracts personally, do you intend to go and visit all the local estate agents, property maintenance company's etc or send them a letter which will probably get filed in the bin, how far are you prepared to travel within reason to a job, are you going to advertise in all the local media like Thomson local, Yellow pages and if you are in what areas, The phone book, The business directory, 118247. All these are factors that are going to affect your earning potential in this trade as it will in any trade, are you offering a lock opening only service or are you intending to offer all locksmith services plus. We can tell you where you will expect to get work from and what advertising works etc but we cant make your business work for you. I know locksmiths that earn between £500 and £1000+ a week for very little work I also know locksmiths that earn far more working 24-7 it really is down to the individual as to how much effort they are prepared to put into making a business a success.

Still Have questions

Please Email or Phone us on 01933 679990 and we will be pleased to assist.

For information regarding any of the Locksmith Training offered please contact us on the following details.

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Contact us on: Phone: 01933 679990 - Fax: 01933 387432 - Email: locksmith-training@hotmail.co.uk

Head office address: 16 Cowper Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 3NN, United Kingdom.